Hardy showed her how to hold the reins so as to feel the horses' mouth slightly. She appeared to like to hear the quick sound of the horses trotting.
"How easily they go! There is no difficulty in slackening or quickening their speed, and they obey the least touch on the rein," said Helga.
"We have been training them for my mother to drive, and Garth drives well," said Hardy.
"I should so like to learn to ride!" said Helga, carried away by her admiration of the horses.
"That is what I once offered to teach you," said Hardy, "and you replied in the negative so decidedly that I did not like to refer to the subject afterwards."
"Yes; Kirstin said it was not womanly to ride, and that I was not a Bondetøs" (a peasant girl), replied Helga. "But I do not see that it is different in that respect to driving a horse in a carriage, and if horses are kept, I think that it is useful to be able to ride them. There was also another reason why I did not wish you to teach me to ride, that I cannot tell you."
"Then do not tell me," said Hardy. "But supposing I am at Rosendal, in May, next year, will there be any objection then, if your father has none?"
"No," said Helga, involuntarily.
"Then I will recollect to bring over an English lady's saddle," said Hardy.
The Pastor, overcome with his walk, his breakfast, and the warmth of the day, had fallen asleep, and woke up to the situation that his daughter was driving the carriage.